Police arrest 3 suspects in Cerritos, Buena Park burglaries

CERRITOS - Three suspects were arrested June 11 in connection with burglaries in Cerritos and Buena Park, police said.

The suspects, ages 24, 29 and 37, were arrested and booked for residential burglary and found to be gang members on active parole, said Lt. Richard Harpham of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Cerritos Station.

The suspects' names aren't being released at this time because of the ongoing investigation, said Deputy Mark Pope at the Sheriff's Headquarters.

About 1:30 p.m., Cerritos Sheriff's Station deputies were called about a suspicious man looking over a wall in a residential neighborhood in the 19700 block of Nicholas Avenue, Harpham said.

When deputies arrived, they saw the suspect walk out the front door and toward a car parked in front of the house.

Deputies detained the man and then saw another man running between houses on Nicholas Avenue.

Cerritos and Lakewood Sheriff's Station deputies searched the area for additional suspects. About 30 minutes later, the suspect was found inside the garage of a neighboring house.

A third suspect was detained after running through Gridley Park, Harpham said.

Eventually, deputies spoke with the homeowner, who said some items were stolen from the home. Those items were recovered from the suspects and returned, Harpham said.

Cerritos Sheriff's Station detectives also found items stolen two hours earlier from a residential burglary in Buena Park on the suspects, Harpham said.

A follow-up investigation is underway by the sheriff's Major Crimes Division.

Cerritos residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the Cerritos Sheriff's Station, 562-860-0044. To report an emergency or a crime in progress, call 911.